Victor Chávez, Jr., Teaching Assistant for Prof. Grant

Victor Chavez, Jr. is a fifth generation, Mexican-American musician from El Paso, Texas and has studied with Larry Combs, Guy Deplus, Kenneth Grant, Jon Manasse, Julie Deroche, Dr. Richard Shanley, and Alan Olson. While earning his music education degree from Baylor University, Victor was the second clarinetist with the Waco Symphony Orchestra. Upon completing his bachelor’s degree, he was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Lusk Fellowship which allowed him to study in Paris, France under the tutelage of Guy Deplus, former soloist of L’Opera de Paris and teacher of the Conservatoire National Superior de Paris. While in Paris, Victor was principal clarinetist of the Orchestre des Universites de Paris and conducted his Fulbright research in pedagogy, performance practice, and literature.

Victor then returned to the United States and attended DePaul University where he earned a Master’s degree with distinction in clarinet performance under the guidance of Larry Combs, former principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Victor has taught privately in El Paso, Texas; Waco, Texas; Mexia, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and at the University of Rochester in New York State. He has attended the Brevard Music Festival, Blossom Music Festival, and Round Top Music Festival. He has been a guest clinician for various middle schools and high schools in south and west Texas. At the present moment, Victor is earning his doctorate in Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music where he occasionally performs with the historic Eastman Wind Ensemble, Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, and Tri-Cities Opera Company.

Throughout his collegiate career, he has been very active in concerto competitions. He has won prizes at the El Paso Artists Guild Concerto Competition; twice at the Entergy Young Texas Artists Competition in Conroe, Texas; Baylor University Concerto Competition; the International Sorantin Concerto Competition in San Angelo, Texas; DePaul University Concerto Competition; and the Round Top Festival Concerto Competition. Victor is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.

Lucy Abrams, Teaching Assistant for Prof. Grant

Lucy Abrams is a second year masters student at Eastman studying with Professor Ken Grant. Lucy completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a double degree in Instrumental Performance and Anthropology. Originally from Wilmette, IL, Lucy began studying the clarinet at age 10. Her main teachers include Ken Grant, David Harris, Karl Leister, and Gary Karner. Lucy has participated in music festivals including Marrowstone, Kent/Blossom, Burgos Music Festival (Burgos, Spain) and the Innsbrook Institute and Festival where she had the opportunity to work with Ricardo Morales. In her free time, Lucy enjoys cooking, swimming, and reading.